concur with Our late General Assembly, in their Desire to Us about
Unity of Religion, and Uniformity of Church-Government in all Our three
Kingdoms; which cannot be more earnestly desired by you, than shall
be really endeavoured by Us, in such a way as We in Our Conscience
conceive to be best, for the flourishing Estate of the true Protestant
Religion. But as for Joyning with Our Houses of Parliament here in
this Work, it were improper for Us at this time to give any Answer:
for since their Meeting they have never made any Proposition to Us,
concerning Unity of Religion, or Uniformity of Church-Government: so
far are they from desiring any such thing, as we are confident the
most considerable Persons, and those who make fairest Pretences to
you of this kind, will no sooner embrace a Presbyterial than you an
Episcopal. And truely it seems, (notwithstanding whatsoever Profession
they have made to the contrary,) that nothing hath been less in their
minds than Settling of the true Religion, and Reforming such Abuses
in the Church-Government, as possibly have crept in, contrary to the
establish’t Law of the Land: to which we have been so far from being
averse, that we have by divers Declarations and Messages pressed them
to it, though hitherto it hath been to small purpose. But when-ever any
Proposition shall be made to Us by them, which We shall conceive may
any way advance the Unity of the true Protestant Religion, according to
the Word of God, or establish the Church-Government according to the
known Laws of this Kingdom, We shall by Our chearful joyning with them,
let the World see, that nothing can be more acceptable unto Us, than
the furthering and advancing of so good a Work. So we bid you Farewell.
From Nottingham the 26th of August, 1642.
* * * * *
1642.—September 10.
7. _Letter from Mungo Murray (afterwards Earl of Dysart) to the Earl of
Lanerick._[309]
MY MUCH HONOURED LORD,
When I arrived here, your Brother was in Argyle; but upon knowledge of
my coming, came himself, and brought that Marquis with him to Hamilton,
whither the Chancellor went likewise, and there I attended all three.
I found them with the same Affections and Desires your Lordship left
in them, but as they conceive, not so able to Act as they were then.
They apprehend, the Parliament of England will be much higher in their
Demands than at that time; as understanding now both the Kings Power,
and their own, which were then but upon forming, and promised a greater
Equality. The Kings two Messages to the Parliament have likewise so
discredited His Majesties Affairs in this Country, that they fear many
forward enough before, will now unwillingly engage in any way which may
displease the Parliament; yet they are resolved to do their best, and I
believe say little less in this inclosed Letter, signed by all three.
His Majesty must expect in point of Religion, to be prest for
Uniformity in Church-Government; and if His Majesty may be moved to
publish some handsome Declaration satisfactory in that point, it would
infinitely advance all his Affairs in this Country, and from hence have
a powerful influence upon that.
The Parliament hath gained much here by their last Vote, and there is
a very fine Answer expected in their last Message sent by the Lord
Maitland, which will extraordinarily confirm the former Correspondence;
if the King do not something plausible in the same kind, timeously and
unconstrained, the two Kingdoms will shut upon him in despight of what
his best Servants can do.
Here is no Order for publishing His Majesties Declarations, and great
care taken to the contrary, which occasions great prejudication in the
common Peoples minds, and were very fit to be amended.
I am looked upon here with great Jealousie, yet it lessens because
they see I am not busie. I am advised by your Brother, and the rest,
for avoiding of suspicion to go up to Court, which (having dispatched
some particular business I have of my own) I am resolved to do. They
have entrusted me with these particular Queries, of which they desire
His Majesties Resolution; if your Lordship had opportunity you may
acquaint His Majesty with them. They desire likewise your Lordship may
be sent down with a Letter to the Commissioners full of Confidence, and
allowing them all Freedom in their Consultations. In respect of this
great Meeting, your Brother cannot make his Journey to Holland: no Act
of that nature being now to be done, their Opinion and Authority not
consulted: but I find them all right set in the thing, and truly so
respective to the Queens Person, it did my Heart good to hear them.
All the Lords Conservators which are with you, will receive Summons:
but it is not desired they should come down, and truly I believe their
Presence will do more hurt than good.
I must intreat your Lordship to acquaint His Majesty with these
Particulars, to receive his further Commands, and convey them to
My Lord,
Your Lordships faithful humble Servant,
Edinburgh, 10ᵗʰ Sept. M. MURRAY.
1642.
POSTSCRIPT.—The King must send to New-Castle Directions concerning his
Ships, for their Victuals are quite spent; my poor opinion is, they
should be sent to Holland, where they may be safer, and attend the
Queen.
* * * * *
1642.—September 18.
8. _The King’s Letter to the Conservators of the Peace._[310]
RIGHT TRUSTY, &C.
Having been informed that upon Petition of the Commissioners from
Our late General Assembly, Our Council thought fit, that you should
meet for discharging of that Trust imposed on you by Us, and Our
Parliament, whereby all fair means may be used to prevent such Troubles
and Divisions, as may interrupt or endanger the common Peace of Our
Kingdom. And as it ought to be the continual study of all Good and
Pious Princes, to preserve their People, so certainly it is the Duty of
all Loyal and Faithful Subjects, to maintain the Greatness, and Just
Authority of their Princes; so that without this reciprocal Endeavour,
there can be no Happiness for the Prince, nor Security for the People.
We are sure, Our late Actions in Scotland, will to all posterity be an
acceptable witness of Our Care, in preserving the Liberty of those Our
Subjects, and Our Desire to settle perfect Peace in that Our Kingdom.
And We are also confident, that the many good Acts We have past here
since the Sitting of this Parliament, (indeed denying none but such as
denyed Us any Power at all, and were never so much as demanded from any
of Our Predecessors) will bear the like Testimony of Our Affection to
the Good and Peace of this Kingdom, though the success hath not been
alike. For though We have used Our best Endeavours, to prevent the
present Distractions and threatning Dangers: yet so prevalent have been
the opposers of Us, and the Peace of Our Kingdoms, that not so much
as a Treaty can be obtained, (though by Our several Messages we have
descended to demand and press it) unless upon such Conditions, as would
either by taking all Power of Government from Us, make Us as nothing;
or by forcing Us to quit the Protection of such, as for obeying Us
(according to Law and their Oath of Allegiance) they would have
Traytors, and so make Us do an Act unworthy of a King. Yet so desirous
We are to save Our Subjects Blood, (which cannot but be prodigally
spent, if We be necessitated by force of Arms to decide these unhappy
Differences) that no sooner any such Treaty shall be offered unto Us
by them, (which with Honour and Safety We can receive) but We shall
chearfully embrace it. This We have thought fit to acquaint you with,
that from Our Selves, you may know Our love to Peace, and We doubt not
but your Meeting at this time will produce something which will witness
your tender respect to Our Honour and Safety; and so much We do confide
in your Affections, as We shall absolutely leave the ways and means of
expressing it to your selves. So We bid you heartily farewell.
From Our Court at Stafford, the
18ᵗʰ of September.
* * * * *
1642.—December 2.
9. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[311]
HAMILTON,
Though the Trust of this Bearer[312] needs not a Credential Letter, yet
the Civility of a Friend cannot but under his hand, as well as by word
of mouth, express his Kindness, and resentment of Courtesies; which
of late have been such, that you have given me Just cause to give you
better Thanks, than I will offer at in words. I shall not neglect the
lazie use of so trusty a Bearer, by referring to him, not only the
estate of my Affairs here, but likewise in what way you will be of most
use to Me: yet I cannot but tell you, I have set up my rest upon the
Justice of my Cause, being resolved, that no extremity or misfortune
shall make me yield; for I will be either a _Glorious King_, or a
_Patient Martyr_, and as yet not being the first, nor at this present
apprehending the other, I think it now no unfit time, to express this
my Resolution unto you. One thing more, (which but for the Messenger
were too much trust to Paper) the failing to one Friend hath indeed
gone very near me; wherefore I am resolved, that no Consideration
whatsoever shall ever make me doe the like. Upon this Ground I am
certain, that God hath either so totally forgiven me, that he will
still bless this Good Cause in my Hands; or that all my Punishment
shall be in this World, which without performing what I have resolved,
I cannot flatter my self will end here. This accustomed Freedom will
(I am confident) add chearfulness to your honest Resolutions, seeing
beside Generosity, to which I pretend a little, my Conscience will make
me stick to my Friends, assuring you, I have none if I am not
Your most assured constant Friend,
CHARLES R.
Oxford, 2ᵈ Decemb. 1642.
* * * * *
1642.—December 29.
10. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[313]
HAMILTON,
You know I am ill at words: I think it were best for me to say to you
(as Mr Major did) _you know my mind_, and indeed I know none of my
Subjects, that knows it better; and having for the present little else
to give my Servants but thanks, I hold it a particular Misfortune that
I can do it no better, therefore this must suffice. I see you are as
good as your word, and you shall find me as good in mine, of being
Your most assured constant Friend,
CHARLES R.
Oxford, December 29ᵗʰ, 1642.
POSTSCRIPT.—You cannot take to your self, nor express to your Brother,
better thanks than I mean to you both, for the Service you did me the
last Council-day.
* * * * *
1643.—January.
11. _The Cross Petition._[314]
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS,
That whereas His Majesty, with Advice of his Great Council the Estates
of Parliament, hath been pleased to select your Lordships to be His
Councellours, and hath, by an Act of the late Parliament, committed
to your Lordships the Administration and Government of this Kingdom,
in all Affairs concerning the Good, Peace, and Happiness thereof; and
in regard of that great Trust reposed by His Majesty, and the Estates
of Parliament in you, your Lordships have been and will continue so
careful to acquit your selves of that weighty Charge, as you may be
answerable for all your Actions and Proceedings to his Majesty, and
the Estates of Parliament, to whom, (as we conceive) you are and can
only be accomptable: And now we being informed of a Petition presented
by some Noblemen, Gentlemen and others, to the Commissioners, for
conserving the Articles of the late Treaty, upon pretext of your
Lordships not Sitting at that time, wherein it is represented, that
your Lordships late Warrant for Printing his Majesties Letter hath
occasioned great Grief and heavy Regrate, of all who tender the Glory
of God, His Majesties Honour, and procuring Unity of Religion, and
Uniformity in Church-Government, the continuance of Peace, and Union
betwixt the two Kingdoms, and fearing if at this time, we should be
silent, your Lordships should conceive us, and the rest of the Kingdom,
to be involved with them in the like Desires, Judgements, and Opinions,
and lest by our silence our Gracious Soveraign the Kings Majesty
should believe us wanting in the Duty and Allegiance, which by so
many Tyes and Obligations we owe to Him, our Native King, or that our
Brethren of England should apprehend the least Intention, or Desire
in us, to infringe, or any ways encroach upon the Brotherly Union of
the two Kingdoms, to happily united under one Head; We presume in all
Humility to clear our selves, and our Intentions to your Lordships, and
to all the World, and therewith, to represent our humble Wishes and
Desires, for Establishing His Majesties Royal Authority, and continuing
that happy Union betwixt the two Kingdoms, which can never truely
be conceived to be intended to weaken the Head, whereby it is knit
together, and without which it can have no subsistence.
The happy Union of the two Kingdoms under one Head, our King, doth so
much add to His Majesties Greatness, and Strength of both Kingdoms,
that we British Subjects cannot choose but wish that the said Brotherly
Union be heartily entertained, and cherished by all fair and reasonable
means, to which we conceive no one thing will as much conduce, as
that the late Articles of the Treaty of Peace, and Conclusions taken
thereupon about Unity of Religion, may be carefully and timeously
prosecuted: wherein as our Commissioners then, so we now without
presuming or usurping to prescribe Rules, or Laws of Reformation to our
Neighbour-kingdom (Civil Liberty and Conscience being so tender that
it cannot endure to be touched, but by such as they an wedded to, and
have lawful Authority over them) notwithstanding, seeing the duty of
Charity doth oblige all Christians to pray and profess their Desires,
that all were of the same Religion with themselves, and since we all
acknowledge that Religion is the base and foundation of Kingdoms,
and the strongest Bond to knit the Subjects to their Princes in true
Loyalty, and to knit their Hearts one to another in true Unity, we
cannot but heartily wish, that this work of Union so happily begun, may
be crowned end strengthened by the Unity of Church-Government; and that
your Lordships with us may be pleased to represent it to His Majesty,
and Both Houses of Parliament, as an expression and Testimony of our
Affections to the good of our Brethren in England, and of our Desires
to make firm and stable our Brotherly Union by the strong chain and
Bulwark of Religion; but, as we have said, no ways intending thereby
to pass our bounds, in prescribing, and setting down Rules and Limits
to His Majesty, and the Two Houses of Parliament, their Wisdom and
Authority, in the way of prosecution thereof. The sense we have of the
great Calamities, and irreparable Evils, which upon occasion of these
unhappy Distractions and Mistakes betwixt the Kings Majesty and the Two
Houses of England, (which if not speedily removed cannot but produce
the tearful and prodigious effects of a bloody and Civil War) obligeth
us in the duty of Christians, and as feeling members of what may
concern our Common Head, the Kings Majesty, and the Good and Happiness
of our Brethren of England, humbly to represent to your Lordships,
That as we will not be wanting with our Prayers, and our faithful and
best Endeavours, to assist in the removing of these Unhappy Mistakes
and Misunderstandings: so we heartily wish, and humbly Petition your
Lordships, that from the deepness of your Wisdom such happy Motions may
flow, as upon that tender care of our Soveraigns Person and Authority,
Peace and Truth may be settled in all His Majesties Dominions. Although
we will not presume nor take upon us, to prescribe Laws and Rules to
your Lordships, yet in all Humility we intreat your permission, to
represent such Particulars as we conceive, and are very confident, will
conduce much to the removing of all these Mistakes betwixt His Majesty
and His Two Houses of Parliament, and be a ready mean to facilitate a
happy and wished Peace, and continue the Brotherly Union between the
Two Kingdoms.
And first, that in answering the foresaid Petition your Lordships may
be pleased to do no Act, which may give His Majesty just occasion to
repent him of what Trust he so Graciously expressed (in his letter of
the Date the fifth of December) He reposes in us His Subjects of His
Ancient and Native Kingdom; for we cannot think, that our Brethren in
England, or any other, can believe, that the ground of this Mutual
Union of the two Kingdoms, by the several and respective Unions to our
Prince and Head, should weaken the strong Bond, whereby it is knit,
and by which we are so firmly tied, by so many Ages, and unparalelled
lineal descents of an hundred and seven Kings. Neither can we suppose,
that any good Protestant, or true member of our Church, can imagine,
far less seduce others to believe, that by the late Treaty of Peace, or
Act of Union, we as Scotish Subjects are in any sort liberated from the
Dutiful Obedience, which as Scotishmen we owe to our Scotish King, or
from that due Loyalty, which as Scotish Subjects we owe to our Native
Soveraign, for Maintenance of His Person, Greatness and Authority;
or that thereby, we are in any other Condition in these necessary
Duties to our Soveraign, than we and our Ancestors were, and have been,
these many Ages and Descents, before the making of the said Act, or
before the Swearing and Subscribing of our late Covenant, by which we
have solemnly sworn, and do swear not only our mutual Concurrence,
and Assistance for the cause of Religion, and to the utmost of our
power, with our Means and Lives, to stand to the Defence of our Dread
Soveraign His Person and Authority, in the preservation of Religion,
Liberty, and Laws, of this Church and Kingdom; but also in every Cause,
which may concern His Majesties Honour, we shall according to the Laws
of the Kingdom, and Duty of Subjects, concur with our Friends and
Followers in quiet manner, or in Arms, as we shall be required of His
Majesty, or His Councel, or any having his Authority.
Secondly, That if your Lordships think it fitting, to make any answer
to the Parliament of England their Declaration, your Lordships may
be pleased not to declare, enact, or promise, any thing which may
trouble or molest the Peace of this Kirk and Kingdom; which by Gods
special Grace, and His Majesties Favour and Goodness, we enjoy and
have established unto us according to our Hearts desire, by the Laws
Ecclesiastical or Civil of this Kingdom respective, and which His
Majesty since, by so many Declarations and deep Protestations hath
Sworn to maintain inviolably.
Thirdly, That your Lordships may be pleased to consider, that as
nothing will more diminish His Majesties Greatness, than that this
Kingdom should consume in Civil War; so nothing will more conduce
to the Suppressing of Insolent Papists, malignant, schismatick, and
Disloyal Brownists, and Separatists, the special, if not the sole
promovers of these unhappy Misunderstandings, than that heartily and
freely, without respect of worldly and secondary Considerations, we
give to Christ what is Christ’s, and to Cæsar what is Cæsar’s; by means
whereof, the Truth and Purity of Religion shall be established, to the
utter Confusion of all these Sectaries, true Monarchical Government
firmly setled; by which likewise, Laws and Authority shall retain their
ancient vigour and force, to the Suppression of all Commotions and
tumultuous Conventions, the bane and overthrow of all true Religion and
Policy.
Fourthly, Although there be nothing farther from our minds, than to
presume to question, or crave of your Lordships an account of your
Actions, knowing perfectly by the inviolable Laws and Customes of this
Kingdome, that to be only proper and due to the King and Parliament,
from whence you have that great Charge and Trust delivered unto
you: yet we hope your Lordships will give us leave, in all Humility
to remember your Lordships of your Deliverance, June 1642, and are
confident, that the said Lords, the Petitioners, neither have, nor
shall have, necessity to trouble themselves, nor the Council with
Supplications of this kind, and that your Lordships in your Wisdom will
take some Course for preventing all occasions, which may in any sort
disturb the Peace of this Kingdom, or make Division among the Subjects
thereof.
* * * * *
1643.—February.
12. _Answer by the King to the Scots Commissioners at Oxford._[315]
His Majesty commends the Zeal of the Petitioners for the advancement
of the true Reformed Religion, against Heresy, Popery, Sects,
Innovations, and Profanity, and always shall use His best and uttermost
endeavours, for the Advancing the one, and the utter Suppressing the
rest.
For the Unity in Kirk-Government, His Majesty knows, that the
Government now established by the Laws, hath so near a relation and
intermixture with the Civil State, (which may be unknown to the
Petitioners) that till a composed digested Form be presented to him,
upon a free debate by Both Houses of Parliament, whereby the Consent
and Approbation of the whole Kingdom may be had, and He and all His
Subjects may discern what is to be left, or brought in, as well as what
taken away, He knows not how to consent to an Alteration, otherwise
to such an Act for the ease of Tender Consciences, in the matter of
Ceremonies, as His Majesty hath often offered.
And His Majesty hath formerly expressed Himself (and still continues)
willing, that the Debates of Religion may be entred into by a Synod of
Learned and Godly Divines, to be regularly chosen, according to the
Laws and Customs of this Kingdom; to which end His Majesty will be
very willing, that some Learned Divines of the Kirk of Scotland may be
likewise sent to be present, and offer their Reasons and Opinions.
* * * * *
1643.—April 19.
13. _Last Answer by the King to the Scots Commissioners._[316]